This article was written by Tirion Morris for the Arizona Republic.
The highly anticipated mixed-use development adds seven new dining and retail options to its vibrant community.
GILBERT, Ariz. (Feb. 9, 2021) – Epicenter, the high-end, vertically integrated mixed-use community and retail destination in the heart of Agritopia®, announces seven new retail and restaurant tenants that complement its existing line-up of impressive businesses. Epicenter’s new tenants include barre3, Belly Kitchen & Bar, OLIVESPA, Raw Organic Juice, Source, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen and UnderTow. This vibrant new line-up of tenants joins Beer Barn, Bunky Boutique, Gadzooks, Hooligan’s Barbershop, Matt’s Big Breakfast, Peixoto Coffee, Wylde Hair Salon, The Fit Collective and Vintage Home. These best-in-class retailers are slated to open to the public in late 2021 and early 2022, while residential tenants begin move-ins fall of 2021.
“We are excited to have chosen Epicenter for our second UnderTow location,” said Rich Furnari, co-owner & director of operations at Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality. “The combination of attractive demographics and Epicenter’s unique ‘main street’ format in a mixed-use development made it the ideal choice for Barter & Shake to bring our award-winning UnderTow concept to Gilbert. We look forward to sharing UnderTow with the residents of Gilbert and the East Valley—or at least saving them a drive!”
“Our decision to partner with the Johnston family at Epicenter was an easy decision for us—it’s what we refer to as a perfect recipe!” said Anthony Spinato, president and CEO of Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen. “First, there could not have been a better choice for Spinato’s than to partner forces with the Johnston family. Secondly, we were excited and awed to be part of a family of phenomenal local restaurants handpicked by the Johnston’s. And lastly, we had to finally satisfy the many years of requests from so many of our passionate guests who live in the amazing Town of Gilbert.”
A perfect town to live and play, Gilbert recently ranked as the number-one “Best City for Business in Arizona” by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the number-two “Safest City in the United States” according to FBI Crime Statistics. In Gilbert, Agritopia® is a well-known dining destination for young families throughout the East Valley, creating an ideal environment for new concepts and established businesses to open doors.
“Gilbert is ready for a development like Epicenter,” said Dan Henderson, director of economic development for the Town of Gilbert. “The median age of residents in Gilbert is 33.9 and it recently ranked as the number-one city where millennials are buying homes. The Johnston family has built an incredible community in Agritopia®, and I anticipate Epicenter will expand upon that.”
Epicenter’s diverse mix of retailers is thoughtfully curated not only for Agritopia® residents, but for all of Gilbert and Phoenix to enjoy. Retail is focused on premier health and wellness brands, as well as top eateries and locally-owned artisan shops. Remaining retail space will be filled with tenants who complement the already stellar line-up.
“Epicenter is an awesome collaboration by every stakeholder,” said Casey Treadwell, owner’s representative from Vivo Partners. “Gilbert is a town that truly trusts and supports the ownership—local businesses willing to invest during extremely difficult times—and it’s a supportive community willing to come together to reimagine mixed-use development. Everyone involved in the project believes it has potential to become the blueprint for suburban mixed-use development.”
In addition to the engaging Main Street-style retail destination, Epicenter will feature 320 apartment homes over retail that appeal to a broad spectrum of residents seeking a walkable lifestyle within a vibrant community. The residences include studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom living options, and range in size from 504 square feet to 1,600 square feet. Residents also can expect luxury amenities such as a demonstration kitchen, maker’s space, resort-style pool and premier fitness facilities, for starters.
“We love Gilbert and appreciate the support of the community and local government to help bring ‘Best of AZ’ operators to Gilbert,” said Joe Johnston, president and founder of Johnston & Co. “Our goal is for Gilbert to flourish and for these operators to enjoy great success in the businesses they passionately pursue.”
“Welcoming award-winning businesses and new concepts to Gilbert is one of the highlights of this capstone project,” said William Johnston, CEO of Johnston & Co. “Our vision for Epicenter is to bring the best to our community for all ages to enjoy.”
Epicenter’s team is comprised of top experts in their respective industries, including William and Joe Johnston of Johnston & Co., the development group leading the retail portion of the project; Joe Doucett of Newmark Knight Frank, retail listing agent representing Johnston & Co.; Casey Treadwell of Vivo Partners, owners’ representative of Johnston & Co.; Matt Personne of Foursite, Epicenter’s tenant improvement coordinator; and Greg Nadeau, StreetLights Residential’s vice president of development and Epicenter’s development partner.
“The dynamic mix of restaurants and retailers coming to Epicenter will create a vibrant gathering place for the community, as well as serve as a wonderful amenity for our residents,” said Francine Bradford, StreetLights Residential’s vice president of capital markets. “Epicenter will truly be the heart of Agritopia®. Johnston & Co. has done an incredible job of crafting this final phase of the community, ensuring that it will be enjoyed by Gilbert residents and the surrounding area for years to come.”
The project is the capstone to complete Agritopia® and designed to cater to residents of all ages. Epicenter pays tribute to the property’s agrarian past and present—Agritopia® includes an 11.3-acre organic farm—and each building is uniquely designed to further the sense of community. Whether a child, young adult, family or senior, Epicenter is the place to call home, dine and shop. It’s where heritage, health and home meet, and where experiences are made, shared and remembered.
For more information, visit www.epicenteratagritopia.com.
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About Epicenter
Epicenter is an exceptional residential and retail destination in the heart of Agritopia®, the highly regarded vertical mixed-use development that redefines the community of Gilbert, Ariz. It’s designed to be a place where people from across generations gather, with a focus on healthy living and distinctive dining and retail experiences. Epicenter features 320 units of elevated apartment living with uncommon amenities that appeal to a broad spectrum of residents seeking a vibrant living community. The residences are situated above a diverse mix of retailers, from premier health and wellness brands to top eateries and locally-owned artisan shops. The community includes studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom living options, and more than 49,000 square feet of retail space in a health-focused, walkable environment. For more information, please visit www.epicenteratagritopia.com.
About Johnston & Co.
Established in 1960, Johnston & Co. is a multi-disciplinary development firm that focuses on agriculture, manufacturing, food and communities. Simply said, they make things and places. The Founder of Johnston & Co. is well-known Valley entrepreneur Joe Johnston. The CEO of Johnston & Co. is his son, William Johnston. For more information, please visit www.johnstonandcoaz.com.
About StreetLights Residential
StreetLights Residential specializes in new urbanist apartment homes and mixed-use developments. With in-house development, design, and construction expertise, the StreetLights team focuses on custom luxury communities which rival the experience, lifestyle and amenities of living in an urban boutique hotel. StreetLights has numerous urban infill projects throughout the country with more than 13,000 multifamily units completed, in progress or projected in 11 cities across six states. Since StreetLights’ inception in 2011, the company has grown to more than 200 employees in its development and construction companies and has offices in Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix and San Diego. For more information, visit www.streetlightsres.com.